A Longmont man is heading to prison after pleading guilty to causing a fatal crash in Boulder in 2022. David Blattner admitted to vehicular homicide for recklessly crossing into oncoming traffic and killing Erik Shepard. Now, as Blattner begins his sentence, the city is stepping up efforts to prevent future tragedies on its roads.
David Blattner’s Sentencing and Plea Deal
David Blattner, a 53-year-old resident of Longmont, was sentenced to three years in prison for vehicular homicide stemming from a reckless driving incident.
Blattner took a plea deal, admitting guilt to one count of vehicular homicide. As part of the agreement, other charges—such as driving on the wrong side of the highway and driving under restraint—were dismissed.
Having served significant time in jail before the trial, Blattner received 844 days of credit toward his sentence. Upon completing his prison term, he will also serve three years of mandatory parole.
Boulder County’s District Attorney’s Office, in consultation with the victim’s family, agreed that the sentence was appropriate for the case.
Circumstances Surrounding the 2022 Fatal Crash
The fatal crash took place on Jan. 20, 2022, along U.S. 36 near Boulder. Blattner was driving west when he crossed into the oncoming lane, hitting Erik Shepard’s car head-on.
Shepard did not survive the impact, leading to a vehicular homicide charge against Blattner. Witnesses at the scene reported that Blattner appeared intoxicated, and emergency responders noted several empty mini-bottles of alcohol inside his car.
His erratic driving and behavior raised concerns about impairment, prompting a deeper investigation into his actions leading up to the crash.
Toxicology and Statements from the Scene
Days before the collision, Blattner told authorities he had used methamphetamine; he acknowledged that occasionally his driving suffers. He told police he was grabbing for a lighter at the time and did not notice Shepard's car getting near.
His potential impairment, alongside with this brief distraction, undoubtedly contributed to his fatality. A toxicology report later showed trace amounts of methamphetamine and THC in Blattner’s system, although no alcohol was detected.
Despite the absence of alcohol, the presence of other substances raised further concerns about his ability to drive safely.
Longmont’s Vision Zero Initiative for Road Safety
In response to increasing road fatalities, Longmont has recently joined Vision Zero, a global initiative to eliminate traffic deaths. The city held its first World Day of Remembrance event to honor those who lost their lives in traffic incidents.
Vision Zero, which began in Sweden, encourages cities worldwide to work toward reducing traffic-related fatalities. Longmont earned a $1.2 million federal grant to fund this project and improve road safety by means of an all-encompassing strategy.
In order to discourage careless driving and safeguard its citizens, the city council is also proposing an ordinance to place red light and speed cameras all over Longmont. The program emphasizes Longmont's dedication to better roadways and community understanding of road safety.
